Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-02
COL. ELLSWORTH.
Continued from Second Page. ]

''He was fine looking fellow, though
under medium height. lie WAS about
five feet five inches, and his weight was
,bont $50 pounds. His eyes were dark
and penetrating hazel. His hair was Il
trifle long and black. lie was very erect
in his bearing, quick in his movements,
and he had a highly nervous organization
lie WAS rather austere in manner, and was
not what you might call hail fellow well
met man. His voice was clear ami won
deriully musical, and H. never appeared
ANYTHING else than dignilied. lie WAS en-
y,ased To DC married at the time Oi hIS
death, and understand that hS lady IoVe
has since married. | have read hiS diary,
and his short life was model oi virtue
and temperance. He WAS man OF eN-
traordinary abilities and Of extraordinary
virtues, and doubt whether the world
will ever appreciate the greatness when
be POSSESSED.
twas he anxious for Il battle at Alex
andria?"
"No. he WAS not. lie was chosen by
President LiucOlnlOn account OF hts pru-
dence. The President desired to avoid all
whence. and he wanted the Confederate
aoIdiers driven out of Alexandria without
blOodshed if possible. Ellsworth thor,
oughly understood this. lie promised
Lincoln he would be responsible tor his
command, and before they left he male 4
sneech to his men. In this he told us OF
| the importance Of discipline, and SAID he
| had pIefyed his honor that we wonld act
ike men. lie had claimed 1t aS our right
10 lead the army into the "nemy's country
M We were the first 10 answer the call ahd
the first volunteers sworn IN Tor the war
This right had been granted, and he con
rIuded his address by urging upon uS tine
inheritance of the utmost circumSpectloh,
! for the army which comes alter, Said ne,
| will be Judged by you. We are to Kill
pobody except by kindness. Not shot IL
| IN be fired except by orders.
ale then left the regiment and wrote
letter 10 his mother and father, Il copy OF
which | can give You. This letter re;'uS'
WASHINGTON, DC, May -, 1861.
's.SIY DEAR PATENTS: The regiment
- ordered 10 cross the river tonight. We
have no means of knowing what reception
,y, will meet with, although | am OF opln-
ION that our entrance to the city OF Alex
andria will be holly contested, ~ | am Just
;pfnrmed a large body Of troops arrived
there to-day. Should this happen, my
dear parents, it may be my lot 10 he III
nd in some manner. Whatever may
Gannen cherish the consolation that | was
snt,ared in the performance OF sacred
dnty and tonight, thinking ut the prob-
ah;i;ties of tomorrow and the occurrences
| oC the mast, | am perfectly content to ac-
conf whatever my fortune may he, conh-
Int that He who noted the fall OF spar
row will have SOME purpose even IN the
fate of one like me.
"NIy darling and ever loved parents g"oa
byel God bless, protect and care Tor you
p,, this time the ferry boat had reached
,IaSondria and. with Captain Bronell, |
-',,,t over the route from where the boat
IanIed IN the Marshall house. Here,
"a the captain, standing III font OF a
dipgv warehouse, was where we Iahaed;
Inst before we reached Alexandra a small
hot shot ont from the shadow OF the gun
I,,at poTnee, and we came up to the wharf
=, tbs came time This boat contained an
of,icsr hearing white flag. lie talked a
,,, l,H with Colonel Ellsworth, and /
,nos inCnr,ned that the town had either
surrendered or had been placed under a
IIag of truce, and that the Coniederales
nd hen given time to leave the Guy
SINE troOps had been sent from "aShihS,
ton 10 Alexandria by land, and we We're III
r. time the only troops here. While the
.n,;nent were discriminating, squad OF US,
=, Sornany with Col. Ellsworth, started mp
AZ. ~, o,rset We passed the BraddOck house on
ths way. and our destination was the teie-
- 9f,iee The city was rs dead and rs ST.
ISnt 40 the grave. There was not a face 10
4 soa,, and not window or door open,
| A ,er qoing two squares we turned 10 the
- 5oTvn ROYAL street to King, and here
IeI' ,,a,,,e in full view of the Marshall
80 on which Confederate flag, about
~ bv twelve feet in size, was tlutterlng
ths breeze. Ellsworth noticed the flag
III 80 trrped the corner. He told 4 ser
Ssant to 90 hack and tell Capt. Coyle TO
Snrry his company to this spot Inc
Marshall house was an old iashioned
sa,ar, with two old fashioned dormer
vr;ndows poking their heads out through
~ roof There was a wide double en-
800 in its front, and wide doors OF glass
"a into the office. We had passed the
So,,sa and I supposed Col. Ellsworth was
-, 20 leave Capt Coyle TO take care OF the
Ssg He changed his mind, however, and
Suddenly turned TO cross the street 70 the
Marshall house. think he remembered his
nron,ise to the president to act with as
inch moderation rs possible, and he feared
chat the sight of that flag on the whole
oonnnany would so inflame the men that
tSa canfaiu would not be able to control
them. At any rate he went into the house